Chaos and comeback: why Oasis’s iconic reunion has been marred by ticketing controversy

In August 2024, to the delight of Britpop fans and music lovers alike, it was announced that the band Oasis, fronted by the feuding siblings Liam and Noel Gallagher, would be reunited for a summer of touring in 2025. Set to play dates from July to September 2025, Oasis seem to have put their issues aside to play concerts together for the first time in 15 years. However, whilst this announcement is truly exciting in the realm of the music world, the details surrounding this tour have caused various controversies.

But first, let’s go back to the beginning. Oasis found fame at the height of the Britpop movement, with renowned hits such as ‘Wonderwall’ and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ being synonymous with the sounds of the 1990s and early 2000s. Their musical journey boasted various Brit Awards, Grammy nominations, and eight number-one singles from their origin in 1991. Oasis, without a doubt, is one of the best and most successful British bands of all time, but, nevertheless, this success was also marred with issues.

If I were to ask Oasis fans what made their touring days most memorable, it would be the consistent feuding between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher

If I were to ask Oasis fans what made their touring days most memorable, it would be the consistent feuding between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher. From Noel allegedly hitting Liam over the head with a cricket bat, to Liam leaving the stage mid-performance on multiple occasions, the feuding seemed to be at the core of what made Oasis so famous. In August 2009, prior to a performance in Paris, Oasis completely disbanded, leading to their performance and further tour being cancelled and Noel announcing “I quit Oasis tonight”. Oasis’s career also was consistently marked by the constant competition with fellow Britpop band, Blur, fronted by Damon Albarn. Their consistent battle for praise and fans led NME to title their competition as the ‘British Heavyweight Championship’, leading to frosty relations between the Britpop camps. 

Alongside multiple issues with the law, the Gallagher brothers found their own successes alone, with Liam Gallagher pioneering his solo career, and Noel fronting his band: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. However, the Oasis reunion is truly what the fans wanted, and without a doubt, it would be a massive cash opportunity for the band itself.

So, now we return to the current day, and quite frankly, I am very disappointed I did not get Oasis tickets. For my family, the idea of seeing Oasis would be once in a lifetime, especially with my parents attending the same concert six months before meeting. 

With the fiasco of the ticketing scheme, Oasis’s joyous moment has been marked with fan frustration and anger

The ticketing process for Oasis was something likened to hell for music fans! The whole debacle came in the form of dynamic pricing, with hundreds of thousands of fans attempting to get tickets for various locations and dates at the same time. Whilst fans were promised a reasonable price for both standing tickets and seats, the controversial dynamic pricing scheme used by Ticketmaster and other concert promoters meant that prices soared, with tickets being over £200 more expensive than anticipated. 

Oasis themselves have commented on the dynamic pricing situation, offering two more dates in September with an invitational ballot, after placing the blame completely on the promoters and marketing hired to organise their tour. Oasis claim to have had no awareness of the dynamic pricing scheme, which went against their pledges to give the ‘best possible fan experience’. Now, the situation has led to The European Commission ‘urgently reviewing’ the nature of dynamic pricing, whilst being a legal practice in the ticket marketing sector, could be considered a breach of consumer laws. 

With the fiasco of the ticketing scheme, Oasis’s joyous moment has been marked with fan frustration and anger. Whilst they have announced more dates to appease fan wants, will it be enough to gain back fan trust, who have the ability to make or break this tour? I am excited to see what the future of Oasis will pan out to be, but for now, some serious issues with gig ticketing need to be sorted out.